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<title>MapBlog Student Instructions - Basic</title>
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	  <td width="800px" valign="middle" class="legend"><p>MapBlog Help: Linking with existing web resources </p>
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	  <p>The MapBlog course feature (learning object) is an Internet-based  mapping system designed to allow you to link documents and web pages with locations on a map. The MapBlog is based on Google Maps, so if you have used Google Maps, or similar online mapping tools, you will know how to navigate the MapBlog. The MapBlog is a type of application known as a <a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dczsrdmd_5cv3x55cd" target="_blank">mashup</a>. </p>
	  <p>The basic MapBlog functionality includes:<br />
	    1) <a href="#step1"> Viewing the map - you can pan the map and zoom in and out</a><br />
	    2) <a href="#step2">Clicking on placemarks to see the linked documents that other students have added to the map</a><br />
	    3) <a href="#step3">Adding your own placemarks and associated documents to the map </a><br />
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	    This document provides general instructions on how to use the MapBlog.  Note that these instructions are not course specific and your course  assignment may provide additional  instructions.<br />
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  <b><a name="step1" id="step1">1) Viewing Locations on the map</a></b><br />
	    Access the Mapblog using the link provided in your course. A typical MapBlog assignment provides instructions on what you will do with the tool, and it includes a link to the MapBlog specifically configured for your course. When you access the MapBlog through your course link you start in &quot;viewing mode&quot;.  If placemarks have been added to your course MapBlog you can click on a marker to open the web resource linked with that location. </p>
	  <p><b><a name="step2" id="step2">2) Clicking on markers</a></b><br />
	    Every placemark that you see on the map should be linked with a web based resource. This can be either a standard web page, or a document in your course created specifically for this purpose. Clicking on a placemark opens the linked resource in a new window. If you click a marker and the window opens, but no page is displayed, it is because the link was entered incorrectly, or the resource is no longer available. If markers are too close to together, or if the labels overlap, zoom the map in, or uncheck the &quot;Show Labels&quot; checkbox in the right pane to turn off the display of labels. <br />
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  <b><a name="step3" id="step3">3) Adding your own and markers and associated documents to the map</a></b><br />
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  <font color="#FF0000"><b> The first step is to identify the location you want to mark and the information (document or web page) that you will link with that location. </b></font></p>
	  <p>The tutorial linked at the top of this page shows how you can create a web-ready document in your course that can be linked to a placemark in the MapBlog. Alternatively, if you're familiar with creating web pages you can use whatever tool you like and create a web page off-line for uploading to your course team files space.</p>
	  <p><b><font color="#000000">When you add a marker to the map you will need to provide the URL of the web page or course document that will be linked to the marker. You must provide a complete and valid URL for the page you want to link with. When you add the link, be sure to verity the URL using the provided option. You can also test your URL by pasting it into the address bar of your web browser. If the page does not display correctly then there is some problem with the web address that you are using.</font></b> <font color="#000000"><br />
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	    In addition to the URL of the resource that will be linked with your marker, you will provide the label that your classmates will see when viewing the MapBlog and you will provide your name so that you can be credited with the work. We recommend that you use your first name and last name with no space in between like this: <strong>johndoe</strong>. You should also give a little thought to the label you will use. The label should be short and descriptive. Something like:<br />
  &quot;Battle of the Little Bighorn&quot; or &quot;Invasive Plant -Japanese Knotweed&quot;. Don't use special characters in your label; stick to the letters, numbers and dashes. </p>
	  <p>Once you have gathered the information you need, proceed to add your marker by clicking the 
	    &quot;Add A New Location&quot; link at the top right of the MapBlog window. This switches you to the Add Locations view. In the Add Locations view you place your marker by clicking on the map at the location where you want the marker to go. You can pan the map, and zoom in and out, to find the exact location where your marker should go. When you have positioned the map so that you can see the exact location where you want your marker to go, <strong>single click</strong> on the map. Then enter the <b>three pieces of information associated with your marker: </b><br />
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	    1: The label that will appear on your marker on the map<br />
	    2: The URL (web address) of the page you created (or a page on the Internet) <br />
	    3: Your MapBlog nickname <br />
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	    Enter the information and check it. When you are satisfied that it is correct click the Save button. </p>
	  <p><b>If after returning to viewing mode you realize that you have made a mistake, send your instructor an email so that he/she can delete the errant entry.</b> You'll need to provide the label and name that you used so that your instructor can remove the correct marker. </p>
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